The humble garment isn’t solely used to keep our toes warm and comfortable, but is subtly used as a reflection of the culture, society and changing tides within the time it finds itself.
Let’s explore how sock styles, fashions and expressions have changed from the roaring era of the 1920s right up to present day.
1920s - 1950s
The Golden Age of the 1920s saw roaring Gatsby-esque parties, prohibition in full swing, flapper dancers and economic prosperity. Rapid social and cultural change meant a new era for fashion, right down to underwear and socks. Bright silk and wool socks with new, bold patterns became increasingly popular during this decade, reflecting the exuberance and liberation of the jazz era. In an otherwise conservative wardrobe, socks became a way to express individuality and flair like never before.
Along with the 1930s came the Great Depression and economic crash. The prosperity and wealth flaunted throughout the 1920s couldn’t last, and with the crash, the bright, expressive socks of the 1920s became dull and subdued. Economic hardship led to an emphasis on practicality and so socks became functional and made to last, cotton and wool replacing silk in pursuit of durability instead of style.
When the dark days of World War 2 arrived, it’s no surprise that wartime austerity influenced clothing choices - including socks. With wartime shortages, fashion was not on the average person’s mind. Instead, resourcefulness and practicality prevailed, with socks often adhering to military specifications.
By the 1950s, the war was finally over and prosperity returned. As the economy attempted to recover and the term ‘teenager’ became a symbol of a changing culture, socks became more expressive and colourful, reminiscent of the prosperity of 3 decades prior. Bobby socks became increasingly popular, symbolising this new era of youthful exuberance and the rise of a teenage culture.
1960s - 1990s
Moving into the decade of counterculture, the 60s gave us The Beatles, civil rights movements, interest in the psychedelic and celebrity supermodels. This new age of youthful rebellion brought psychedelic patterns and bright colours with knee-high socks and tights becoming popular among women, often worn with mini-skirts. Socks became part of a larger fashion statement that rejected traditional norms.
Dancing firmly into the disco era, the 1970s gave rise to peace and love as well as tube socks presenting colourful stripes, textured patterns and new, wacky designs. Reflecting the decade’s love for sport and fitness, as well as disco culture, socks were both functional and fashionable, often worn with short shorts or skirts.
The 80s exploded onto the world calendar with bright, neon colours and a can full of hairspray. Bold fashion extended to socks, which were used to complement the era's vibrant, excessive styles. Fitness trends also influenced sock styles with bright, neon colours and bold patterns. Less ‘sophisticated’ slouch socks and leg warmers were popular, often worn over tights or leggings.
On the contrary, the 1990s stripped back the vibrant style of the 80s, reverting to a grunge, minimalist era. Sock styles became more utilitarian and less for comfort - more for purpose. The rise of athletic wear as everyday fashion, influenced by brands such as Nike and Adidas, also influenced sock choices. Colourful socks were no longer all the rage and plain white, black and other neutral colours dominated the sock scene.
2000s - present day
With the welcoming of the 21st Century came a merge between fashion and functionality. The athleisure trend from the 1990s led to a focus on performance features in socks in this new century. For the first time ever, novelty socks burst onto the scene and became a fun way to express personality.
We’re nearing the present day, but not before we explore the sock styles of the 2010s. Now a distant memory, the 2010s brought us ‘The Hipster’ as we know it. With technology advancing at a rapid rate, and social media becoming a new way to communicate with friends and family - socks became a key fashion accessory, with statement socks adding flair to outfits. The hipster movement embraced quirky and vintage styles, while sustainability trends influenced material choices.
Officially arriving in modern day, how do the socks of the 2020s compare? We’re only four years in, and yet, we’ve had a global pandemic, a president assassination attempt, 3 UK prime ministers, military conflicts breaking out across the globe, consequences of climate change and the rise of AI. With that, modern day socks are a real mixed-bag. From no-show to knee-high; sustainable and ethically made socks; smart technology socks, thermal socks and even designer and ‘luxury’ socks, we’ve got it all.
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Over the decades, socks have evolved from functional necessities to expressive fashion statements. Each new era has brought about a new way to mirror the broader social, economic and cultural trends of the time. We’re firmly in the decade of sustainable materials, technological advancement and individualism - so who knows what our sock styles will be reflecting in 10, 20 or 100 years time!
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